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The above mural is what you see when you pull up to the Springfield Farmers' market. The market is open every Friday (during the growing season) from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The market is located between 5th & 6th Streets on Main Street in downtown Springfield. It is being held in the Springfield Museum parking lot.

When I was there today, there weren't very many vendors, but the ones there seemed to have a lot of great produce that was grown locally. I purchased some yellow grape tomatoes and lemon cucumbers. I guess it was my day to go yellow.

Personally, I can't wait until sweet corn and ripe red tomatoes are on the list of available produce. There were red tomatoes available, but weren't ripe, so I passed. For me, there is nothing better than Willamette Valley sweet corn on the cob. Of course, it should be dripping in butter, that makes it soooo good for you. LOL

Since we had a fairly late spring, I saw something I didn't expect, and that was these outstanding strawberries. Just so you know, our strawberries are the best for flavor. These are really colorful, but I didn't try them for flavor.

There were also colorful flowers on display for sale. If you were hungry, there are also refreshments available. So, try the Springfield Farmers' Market. See you there!

In a recent post, I said I would post one more of my pictures of my wife's flower garden. I don't have nearly as many flowers this year as previously because my wife isn't here to plant them. I am doing my best to keep things growing though and keep the weeds down.

It amazes me how a weed can grow on a rock but a flower not only requires good soil to grow in, but it also requires regular watering, fertilizer and plenty of space, so it isn't choked out. Weeds though, only require you not to pull them. I know that if I tried to grow dandelions, they wouldn't grow, because I was trying, but since I am not, they do quite well, thank you! Here is the last installment of flowers, I hope you enjoy them as much as Elaine did!

I truely hope you enjoy this last installment. Have a wonderful weekend.

What: Oregon Jamboree

Where: Sweet Home, Oregon (Sankey Park area)

When: August 1, 2 & 3, 2008

Who: Country superstars, soon to be superstars and past superstars

Why: Best country music venue in Oregon

This year's Oregon Jamboree offers something for young and old country music fans. From newcomers Kellie Pickler and Rissi Palmer to venerable Glen Campbell, if you like country music, this is a must see event.

Kellie finished sixth on American Idol's fifth season and she will be performing Saturday, August 2. Rissi just released her self-titled album that is moving up the charts is also on Saturday. Glen Campbell (for those elder statesmen out there, like me) finished first as the Rhinestone Cowboy. He is scheduled for Sunday.

Unbelievable would be the way I describe the lineup of stars. Trace Adkins, Joe Nichols, Neal McCoy, Sugarland, Randy Owen, Confederate Railroad, Phil Stacey, Western Underground and Trent Tomlinson. Topping that off is the comedy of Williams and Ree, billed as "The Indian and the White Guy." I have seen these guys and they crack me up. They hit the stage on Friday.

The festival offers camping (both RV and tent), food booths, beer and wine gardens and several special displays. There will also be the Sweet Home Arts & Crafts Festival on Friday and Saturday with sales booths nearby. According to the website, there were still a few (very few) tent and RV sites available. Call them to be sure, 541-367-8800.

You can find out more about the festival by visiting their website at: http://www.oregonjamboree.com/index.asp.

Rocking out with Trace Adkins singing Honky-Tonk Badonkadonk, or holding the tears back with Sugarland's Stay, all in all, this promises to be another unbelievable weekend in Sweet Home.

By the way, this is not the "first" annual event. The Jamboree was a brainchild of the Sweet Home Economic Development Group to help make up for the lost revenue from timber harvest. Sweet Home had always been a logging town and felt the cut back in available harvest in a very real way. This is their 16^th event and they seem to be getting it right year after year.

(Photos are from the Oregon Jamboree website. Top - Glen Campbell, Middle - Williams & Ree, Bottom - Trace Adkins)

This weekend is the Oakridge/Westfir Summer Concert headlined by Amy Clawson, a favorite local C&W singer. Amy is well known in the area and has been a regular at many fund raising and special events in and around Lane County.

The picture to the left is from her MySpace page where you can go to hear some of her recordings. Personally, Cowboy Up is one of my personal favorites. She will also be at the Douglas and Lane County fairs later this summer. You can see her complete schedule at http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=120478169.

Shannon Reigns and Taylor's Crossing, Taryn Cross, Bob Manning and Nashville West Honky Tonk Road Show round out the music providers for this concert. From the sounds of things, including It will be happening at the Siuslaw Bank Amphitheater, Greenwaters Park, Oakridge, 2-8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Admission is free to the concert, but it is a fund-raising event and donations are requested. Five dollars is the requested donation, but for good talent like this, more could definitely be more appropriate.

Oakridge is located east of Eugene on Highway 58, just a hop, skip and a jump. Really, it is only about 30 miles of gorgeous drive into the Cascades. If you go early, you can even fish or bird watch or hike or just enjoy nature. Oakridge/Westfir are two small communities with a great local flavor and small town atmosphere. While visiting, think about purchasing a vacation home, a really great deal right now, from JoAnn Reynolds at Diamond Peak Realtors, (541) 968-3601, one of my favorite people.

Oakridge is also a nice stopping off point for skiing at Willamette pass. Of course, that will be later in the year, the slopes are a bit bare right now. What better way to enjoy a summer evening than a concert in Oakridge? So, ya'll come, ya hear?

OK gang, I want to see lots of responses to this posting. Where do you like to get your lunch? Where do you think the best value for your money is? Who has the best tasting fare? Why???

OK, here are my choices and they are not all inclusive, there may be others. First, for the best value, no place in the area offers a better one than Costco. Where else can you get an all beef quarter pound hot dog and a soda for only $1.50. Plus you can add your own toppings, including sour kraut. So, there is value #1. I think value #2 is also at Costco. You can get a 3 pound rotisserie bar-b-que chicken for only $5.99. Add a bag of chips and you can feed 3 or 4. Or just feed yourself and use the rest to make sandwiches or Caesar salads.

Next on my list of great deals with good taste, would be Sukaru in Valley River Center. They are a Japanese Grill and everyday have one of their items on special and often times have samples out front with discount coupons. Even at full price, you can get the chicken with rice and vegetables with double meat for just over $6 and it is more than big enough to share. The dish is tasty and hot off of the grill.

Next door to there and several other places around town are Subway sandwiches. They offer several foot long subs for only $5. Again, big enough to share. I don't care for most of the fast food places for lunch because by the time I get a burger good enough to eat, I have to pay more than I want. LOL.

However, if you are hungry, try one of our Mongolian bar-b-que restaurants. There is one located on River Rd., near the Beltline and another in the Target shopping center on West 11th. They are similar in their fare, but differ in preparation. Both allow you to choose your items and sauces, however, they have different preparation techniques. Jung's (W11th) has a big grill that they cook about 8 at the same time and then scrape the grill after each group. Eugene's Mongolian Grill (River Rd.) only cooks two at a time and they are moved around the grill. The danger with this is your meal may taste like what the other person's sauces are. Jung's has one size (all you can eat) and they give a senior discount, no doggie bag. Eugene's has three sizes and doggie bags are allowed unless you go for all you can eat. $6-8.

I like Asian food and one of my favorites is the Fortune Inn on West 6th St. they offer anything on the menu at lunch for $6.25 which includes soup and tea. Their egg flower soup is the best in town. The hot and sour is also good but not sure it is the best. You should have pleanty left over for lunch the next day too. Try the combination chow mein with yakasoba noodles or the special with pan fried noodles. Their special fried rice is also exceptional.

For any day, another great value for lunch is the Olive Garden. You can get soup and salad and breadsticks for only $6.95. All of them are all you can eat. I recommend the Zupa, a potato-sausage-kale soup in a light cream base. Get there early and you get more goodies in your soup.

If you like something a bit different, try Chicken Bonz on Pioneer Parkway in Springfield. They offer several varieties and sizes of chicken wings. Something for everyone's palate. And, for the especially hungry, try Hometown Buffet in the Gateway Mall. They also offer a senior discount with card purchase.

So, tell me your favorites.